Search results

The paper aims to investigate the dynamics of individuals' multiple commitments in the internship context by answering two questions: How do interns' commitment to different stakeholders change over time? And what are the reasons behind these changes?

A qualitative longitudinal study was conducted of a hundred and three interviews with twenty interns in three professional service firms in the UK. The data were gathered via semi-structured interviews that took place on five occasions during the whole internship.

Individuals' decision to maintain or change their commitment depended on their motive to gain long-term benefits (future employment) or short-term benefits (completing an assignment). Therefore, they experienced different types of commitment dynamics, which were influenced by their intention to commit to the organization in the future.

This offers significant implications for attracting and employing interns, which directly affects talent employment. It also contributes to the contemporary work context, as the rise of temporary and cross-boundary settings would increase the complexity and dynamics of commitment.

Despite the predominant assumption that considers commitment as a stable bond, this research is one of the first to investigate the dynamics of multiple commitments. This contributes to the commitment theory by identifying the different types of commitment dynamics and the impact of individuals' intention to commit on the (in)stability of their commitment, which is absent from the existing literature.

Expert Cloud as a new class of Cloud computing systems enables its users to request the skill, knowledge and expertise of people by employing internet infrastructures and Cloud computing concepts without any information of their location. Job scheduling is one of the most important issue in Expert Cloud and impacts on its efficiency and customer satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to propose an applicable method based on genetic algorithm for job scheduling in Expert Cloud.

Because of the nature of the scheduling issue as a NP-Hard problem and the success of genetic algorithm in optimization and NP-Hard problems, the authors used a genetic algorithm to schedule the jobs on human resources in Expert Cloud. In this method, chromosome or candidate solutions are represented by a vector; fitness function is calculated based on response time; one point crossover and swap mutation are also used.

The results indicate that the proposed method can schedule the received jobs in appropriate time with high accuracy in comparison to common methods (First Come First Served, Shortest Process Next and Highest Response Ratio Next). Also the proposed method has better performance in term of total execution time, service+wait time, failure rate and Human Resource utilization rate in comparison to common methods.

In this paper the job scheduling issue in Expert Cloud is pointed out and the approach to resolve the problem is applied into a practical example.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is becoming a crucial health problem worldwide. Continued and high-speed mutations of this virus result in the appearance of new manifestations, making the control of this disease difficult. It has been shown that well-nourished patients have strong immune systems who mostly have short-term hospitalization compared to others. The purpose of this study is to review the major nutrients involved in the immune system reinforcement and to explain nutritional aspects during the recovery of COVID-19.

In this review paper, the mechanistic role of nutrients in boosting the immune system and the nutritional aspects during the recovery of COVID-19 patients were discussed. Papers indexed in scientific databases were searched using antioxidants, COVID-19, inflammation, immune system, macronutrient, micronutrient and probiotic as keywords from 2000 to 2022.

Because of the adverse effects of drugs like thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and hypercholesterolemia, a balanced diet with enough concentrations of energy and macronutrients could increase the patient's durability. The inflammatory cytokines in a vicious cycle delay patients’ rehabilitation. The main mechanistic roles of micronutrients are attributed to the downregulation of virus replication and are involved in energy homeostasis. Dysbiosis is defined as another disturbance among COVID-19 patients, and supplementation with beneficial strains of probiotics helps to exert anti-inflammatory effects in this regard. Being on a well-planned diet with anti-inflammatory properties could reverse cytokine storms as the major feature of COVID-19. Future studies are needed to determine the safe and effective dose of dietary factors to control the COVID-19 patients.

Being on a well-planned diet with anti-inflammatory properties could reverse cytokine storms as the major feature of COVID-19. Future studies are needed to determine the safe and effective dose of dietary factors to control the COVID-19 patients.

Literature survey shows that it is not clear how knowledge management capability (KMC) and ambidexterity capability affect entrepreneurial creativity (EC) and entrepreneurial intensity (EI) promotion. While empirical studies have emphasized the importance of these factors in improving business performance, the cumulative effect and self-reinforcing loops of these factors in improving firm performance have not been identified. In this regard, the study seeks to investigate how to increase the entrepreneurial capabilities of KMC, EI, EC and ambidexterity of food firms to improve their performance.

The method of the present study is applied in terms of purpose and is quantitative in terms of data collection. In order to collect the data, a questionnaire was designed that contained the variables of the conceptual model of the research. This questionnaire was distributed among industrial and academic experts in the Iranian food industry. The method of data collection is an online cross-sectional survey, and the method of data analysis is structural equation modeling using Smart PLS software to analyze the conceptual model.

The present study is cross-sectional survey research that examines the impact of KMC, EC and EI on firm performance by considering the mediating role of organizational ambidexterity. The research study shows a positive impact of entrepreneurial capabilities as KMC, EI, EC and ambidexterity on performance. Accordingly, if a firm builds KMC and fosters EC, it can achieve ambidextrous innovation and thus enhance its EI and performance in the food industry.

This study highlights the knowledge-based view (KBV) in explaining the role of KMC on innovative capabilities and its influence on performance. Research findings shed light on the importance of KMC as a prerequisite for innovation strategy. The study has also established the mediating role of ambidexterity in entrepreneurial value creation. According to the results, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)' performance is positively influenced by entrepreneurial capabilities as KMC, EI, EC and ambidexterity.

This paper gives insights into how SMEs can improve their performance to gain a competitive advantage by developing knowledge and creative ideas in line with entrepreneurial goals. In this regard, the food industry can adopt new strategies to reduce the impact of these challenges to achieve superior performance and competitive advantage.

In the context of overcoming malnutrition in elementary school children and increasing public awareness of this issue, the Indonesian Government has created a “Card for Healthy School Children” (KMS-AS) program in the form of a paper health card. However, currently, the KMS-AS record data are still written on paper, which is less effective in terms of the health process. An integrated measuring device and an online data-recording system are needed to promote children’s health and facilitate access and transfer of data from one place to another. This study aims to develop NFC and IoT-based KMS-AS using sensor fusion method.

The results of this study show that an integrated measuring device for weight, height, body temperature and Spo2 level can be connected with mobile and Web applications using IoT technology, facilitating data recording and monitoring of children’s nutritional status. The sensor fusion method was used for the classification of nutritional status and health status, based on the results of measurement tools. Near field communication (NFC) technology was used to facilitate user identification when making measurements.

The results show that KMS-AS can facilitate classification of nutritional status and children's health status. Measurement and classification data can be monitored via Web and mobile applications. The accuracy of height, weight, body temperature and Spo2 measurements was 98.21%, 98.59%, 98.93% and 98.93%, respectively.

In this research, the authors successfully produced a system using sensor fusion method for measuring body weight, height, temperature and Spo2 level, which is integrated and can be connected to mobile applications and the Web using the IoT and NFC.

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive and detailed review of the state-of-the-art mechanisms of knowledge sharing in the education field as well as directions for future research.

In the current study, a systematic literature review until June 2017 is presented, which has been on the education’s mechanisms of knowledge sharing. The authors identified 237 papers, which are reduced to 71 primary studies through the paper selection process.

By providing the state-of-the-art information, the challenges and issues, this survey will directly support academics, researchers and practicing professionals in their understanding of knowledge sharing developments in education.

There are several limitations in this study. First, this study limited the search for articles to Google scholar and four online databases. There might be other academic journals, which may be able to provide a more comprehensive picture of the articles related to the knowledge sharing in education. Second, non-English publications were excluded from this study. The authors believe research regarding the application of knowledge sharing techniques have also been discussed and published in other languages. In addition, more studies need to be carried out using other methodologies such as interviews.

The paper presents a comprehensive structured literature review of the articles’ mechanisms of knowledge sharing in the education field. The paper’s findings can offer insights into future research needs.

Reverse logistics refer to processes related to the reuse of products. The role of suppliers’ performance is crucial in achieving quality, cost, service and delivery aims of a supply chain. The selection of suppliers is regarded as one of the critical issues encountered by purchasing and operations managers in a supply chain to enhance organization’s global marketplace competitiveness. Most of the supply chain models are rather complex problems. Consequently, it is impossible to propose systematic models to handle them. Therefore, in this paper a new integrated approach based on experimental design and computer simulation is proposed for supplier selection. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

In this study, a simulation approach is implemented to determine certain equivalent of parameters values in a CLSC network design which cannot be computed through mathematical model. Suppliers’ order quantities are investigated by Taguchi method for planning time horizon. Moreover, data envelopment analysis (DEA) is applied to assess suppliers based on quality, cost, delivery time, production capabilities, services and technology.

In the numerical example, there are three suppliers for different regions. Purchase value of each supplier is measured in three years successively. According to the proposed method, the authors find the minimum level of costs together with the maximum number of high-quality products.

The objective functions of model are minimizing the costs and maximizing number of high-quality products. The integrated approach introduced in this paper enables managers to select their suppliers effectively in their real system.

Most supply chain models are complex and the identification of proper and optimal solutions in complex real-world systems often requires the solution of multi-objective problems involving multiple stochastic variables. Therefore, the paper introduces a new integrated approach for supplier selection in closed loop supply chain. To the best of the authors knowledge, this is the first study that integrates DEA, computer simulation and Taguchi method for supplier selection in closed loop supply chains.

Due to its key role in the successful delivery of construction projects, construction productivity is one of the most researched topics in construction domain. While the majority of previous research is focused on the productivity of labor-intensive activities, there is a lack of research on the productivity of equipment-intensive activities. The purpose of this paper is to address this research gap by developing a comprehensive list of factors influencing the productivity of equipment-intensive activities and determining the most influential factors through interview surveys.

A list of 201 factors influencing the productivity of equipment-intensive activities was developed through the review of 287 articles, selected from the ten top-ranked construction journals, by searching for construction productivity in the articles’ titles, abstracts or keywords. Next, the most influential factors were determined by conducting interview surveys with 35 construction experts. To ensure that the interviewees were aware of the research objectives and the distinction between labor- and equipment-intensive activities, an information session was held prior to conducting the surveys, and the surveys were conducted in interview format to allow for clarification and discussion throughout the process.

Project management respondents identified foreman-, safety- and crew-related factors as the categories with the most influence on productivity; tradespeople respondents identified foreman-, equipment- and crew-related factors as the most influential categories. In total, 14 factors were identified, for which there was a significant difference between the perspectives of project management and tradespeople regarding the factors’ influence on productivity.

This paper provides a comprehensive list of factors influencing the productivity of equipment-intensive activities. It identifies the most influential factors through an interview survey of 35 construction experts, who are familiar with the challenges of equipment-intensive activities based on their experience with such activities in the industrial construction sector of Alberta, Canada. Additionally, the differences between the factors that influence the productivity of labor- and equipment-intensive activities are discussed by comparing the findings of this paper with previous research focused on labor intensive activities.

Traditional architecture and urban form is a harmonious and interrelated blend of social relations, cultural beliefs and religious principles forming coherent spatial organisation living in harmony despite diversity of religious beliefs, social class or cultural practices of different communities. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the theoretical background of social cohesion and solidarity in the everyday life of the Mahalla with reference to its religious background in Islam.

The study of Beit Hadawi and Beit Hammadi el-Hassan as distinct evidences of prominent families within the boundaries of Mahallat El Mahdia in Old Hilla offers an empirical investigation on how values of the past informed and, to some extent, governed the very organic organisation of interlocking residential units in Iraq.

It investigates the architecture of home and the spatial organisation of Mahalla’s social activities through highlighting the effect of previous factors in creating a responsive environment that sustained its operational mechanism and fluidity over centuries.

This paper examines how previous values, traditions and rituals are behind the organic tissue of traditional quarters and thus providing an effective criterion to be considered when discussing sustainable development or creating a responsive environment in societies with exceptional privacy.

Movies critics believe that the diversity of Iranian cinematic genres has decreased over time. The paper aims to answer the following questions: What is the impact of the continuous cooperation between the key nodes on the audience's taste, uniformity of the cinematic genres and the box office? Is there any relationship between the importance of actors in the actors' network and their popularity?

In the artistic world, artists' relationships lead to a network that affects individuals' commercial or artistic success and defines the artwork's value. To study the issue that the diversity of Iranian cinematic genres has decreased over time, the authors utilized social network analysis (SNA), in which every actor is considered a node, and its collaboration with others in the same movies is depicted via edges. After preparing the desired dataset, networks were generated, and metrics were calculated. First, the authors compared the structure of the network with the box office. The results illustrated that the network density growth negatively affects box office. Second, network key nodes were identified, their relationships with other actors were inspected using the Apriori algorithm to examine the density cause and the cinematic genre of key nodes, and their followers were investigated. Finally, the relationship between the actors' Instagram follower count and their importance in the network structure was analyzed to answer whether the generated network is acceptable in society.

The social problem genre has stabilized due to continuous cooperation between the core nodes because network density negatively impacts the box office. As well as, the generated network in the cinema is acceptable by the audience because there is a positive correlation between the importance of actors in the network and their popularity.

The novelty of this paper is investigating the issue raised in the cinema industry and trying to inspect its aspects by utilizing the SNA to deepen the cinematic research and fill the gaps. This study demonstrates a positive correlation between the actors' Instagram follower count and their importance in the network structure, indicating that people follow those central in the actors' network. As well as investigating the network key nodes with a heuristic algorithm using coreness centrality and analyzing their relationships with others through the Apriori algorithm. The authors situated the analysis using a novel and original dataset from the Iranian actors who participated in the Fajr Film Festival from 1998 to 2020.